Reporting that House Republicans are investigating whether Attorney General Eric Holder lied to Congress during his recent testimony about Justice Department seizures of communications records in connection with a national security leak investigation, CNN’s Dana Bash misstated key facts of the controversy. In so doing, CNN helped bolster the hollow claims of Republicans – wildly hyped by Fox News – that Holder may have perjured himself….

Greg Sargent: A new Quinnipiac poll finds that an overwhelming majority of Americans – 73-22 – thinks we should be placing a higher priority on the economy and unemployment than on the “scandals” gripping Washington. That includes 72 percent of independents, who are critical in midterm elections. At the same time, a variety of indicators, from rising home prices to buoyed consumer confidence to falling gas prices, suggest that the economy is improving at a stronger clip than previously anticipated.

If the recovery is strong next year, it could help Dems hold the Senate….

TPM: The White House has received more than 120 applications from health insurance plans looking to sell on the new federal health care exchange …. The success of the Affordable Care Act partially hinges on competition in order to keep premiums low, and, according to the memo, “the early signs are promising and demonstrate a significant increase in competition and an array of options for consumers everywhere.”

One out of four insurers that have applied to sell insurance in the marketplace is new to the individual insurance market and at least one new provider has been added in 75 percent of states with a federally run marketplace…..

Jonathan Chait: Pete Wehner, former Minister of Propaganda for the Bush administration, sees the excitement of the Obama scandals receding, and he knows just how to explain this. Not a lack of evidence to date that anybody in the administration has done anything wrong. It’s media bias ….. Yeah, that sounds right….

USA Today: The pro-Obama group Organizing for Action will hold 39 “founders events” across the country this weekend as part of an effort to build separate state chapters.

“OFA supporters, volunteers, campaign alumni and donors will come together to discuss what OFA has already accomplished as well as our goals and the path forward,” said an announcement from the group….

The Illinois State Founders Summit will be held Friday and Saturday in Obama’s hometown of Chicago, and will feature remarks by OFA Chairman Jim Messina and Executive Director Jon Carson.

They plan to discuss “how OFA plans how to continue to ensure the American people’s voices are heard by lawmakers as we fight to tip the scales of power back to the American people and away from the special interests to advance the issues the American people voted for in November,” said the statement.

****

Oh dear:

Steve Benen: ….. McCain quietly traveled to Syria, and his office distributed photos from his visit to news organizations. One image, in particular, has generated some unexpected attention.

Senator John McCain’s office is pushing back against reports that while visiting Syria this week he posed in a photo with rebels who kidnapped 11 Lebanese Shi’ite pilgrims….

McCain’s office insists the senator was not aware that he’d met with Nour and Ibrahim – if they are, in fact, the men in the photograph – and they had not been identified as such during his trip.

The spokesperson added that if McCain had unknowingly met with kidnappers, “that is regrettable.”

Wonkette: ….. Our favorite part of this whole stupid story is this screenshot from Media Matters, which shows the actual chyron from the Fox News story, “Where was Donilon on Night of Benghazi?” right under a picture of Tom Donilon. In the Oval Office…..

Josh Kraushaar: Republican Red Flags All Over in Bellwether States – The GOP’s recruitment struggles in Virginia and Colorado don’t bode well for the party’s long-term health.

For all the lip service given by Republicans to the party’s efforts to modernize its image, a quick look at the GOP’s standing in two must-win battlegrounds doesn’t paint a promising picture of their efforts. In Colorado and Virginia – the archetypes of suburban, demographically changing states – Republicans are barely contesting next year’s Senate races, are facing fresh setbacks in the two pivotal upcoming gubernatorial races, and are dealing with persistent issues recruiting new talent into the pipeline….

E.J. Dionne: Maybe Bob Dole has more clout in the Republican Party than we think. He suggested on Sunday that the party put up a “closed for repairs” sign for the rest of the year. Then along comes Michele Bachmann declaring on Wednesday that she won’t seek reelection.

On the surface, Republicans will be happy that they won’t have to answer for her exquisitely inflammatory statements anymore. Democrats will be disappointed to lose a face that launched thousands of contributions their way. You might say her departure is a small repair for the GOP’s image.

In fact, Bachmannism is far from finished. The Minnesota right-winger deserves to be memorialized with an “ism” because she perfected a tactic well-suited to the current media environment: continually toss out outlandish, baseless charges, and, eventually, some of them will enter the mainstream media…. Bachmann’s method is now common currency…..

Steve Benen: Pew Research Center published an interesting report this week noting that women are now the sole or primary source of family income in 40% of U.S. households with children – a record high. As Emily Arrowood explained, Fox host Lou Dobbs and his all-male panel of guests did not take the news well…..

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet General John McCain. He has given up his Senate seat to go help these Rebels. Let us not forget this is the same McCain who was meeting with former Lybia dictator Gaddaffi, so his judgement in people aren’t that good, remember McCain VP candidate for 08. So why would anyone listen to him. Have anyone heard if Little Lying Lindsey is going?

But why can’t MSNBC understand that viewers who voted for Obama-Biden *DETEST* that venom-dripping Glen Greenwald. Didn’t see this show today (was Greenwald on Bashir or Rev. Al?) but MSNBC needs to take heed of this if it’s true (and no reason to believe it’s not, just saying that I didn’t see Greenwald, and I have no desire to watch that awful person who hates our Presidents so much).

Didn’t get the full story but from Jeff’s timeline, apparently GG criticized Dyson, Bashir and Reid for defending Eric Holder in the AP-manufactured “sandal.”. Even Goldie has gotten on Greenwald’s case now.

The notion that your so-called intellectual discourse seems exclusively aimed at African Americans in the public square is, well, suspect.

Do you think that many MSMers actually dislike our President and his family because of the color of their skin?

Just find it hard to believe, but they are really outdoing themselves by harping on the quickly evaporating “scandalabra.” Scandalabra won’t exist after Labor Day, despite MSM spin and fact-omission (if you randomly asked Americans what the IRS was “targeting” virtually no one would say “tax-exempt status,” and the same number would also not be aware that all groups in question received their tax exempt status).

The scandal is that the MSM conveniently “forget” to mention these facts, they proceed with “scandal” notion without informing their audience. MSM is now Fox News wannabes.

Secondly, yes there is some racial resentment. But more importantly, he is very popular not just in the US, but worldwide, and the MSM was unable to majorly influence the outcome of the 2012 election BECAUSE of his popularity, smarts and strategic planning. Thirdly he is fighting against very things that many in the corporate media would LOVE to see continue – economic and social inequality, ethnic/racial discrimination, etc.

Here’s an idea. Why don’t we as TOD’ers make up the correct viewing scheduling and shows for MSNBC? In the primetime hours could be Reverend Al, Martin Bashir, Joy Reid and Lawrence O’Donnell for starters. Any thoughts? Ideas? Should we change the network name?

Excellent analysis — thank you. By the way, I’m kinda new around here, so forgive me for offering up my humble two cents if I haven’t quite earned the right to do so yet. 🙂

Being a moderate-to-liberal Independent, I sorta appreciate when Chris Matthews, Rachel, Lawrence, Chris Hayes, Ed, etc. “critique” the President and/or his staff, because I see it more from their point of views as “constructive criticism.” I may not always agree with them on every aspect or detail, but I respect their skills, approach, and reasoning overall. They don’t do it because they hate the President. They do it because it’s more-or-less their vocations and responsibilities to do it. This is of course a stark contrast to the “douchebaggery of criticisms” from the geniuses at the (DumbLikeA)FOX Network. 😀

I wonder how MSNBC will react to their tanking ratings, which surely won’t get any better during the summer, when so many people don’t turn the TV on at all (daylight till after 9pm in the north, vacations, etc.).

My personal opinion about Chris Hayes is that his mentor is Rachel, and he thinks her schtick will work for him. But it doesn’t, and his show feels like we’re sitting around in the dorm lounge and Chris is the biggest loud mouth).

MSNBC really needs someone with a perspective outside of the Northeast and Ivy League. Rachel’s from Califwornia/Stanford, so she understands there’s a world outside of NYC. Lawrence splits his time between NYC and Los Angeles. Ed did likewise between Wisconsin (right state?) and NYC. But most of their young pundits seem to have a very narrow life-experience path.

I like the way you think. 🙂 I view Chris as youthful, energetic, and passionate, but I see what you’re saying overall. 😉 Diversity is essential, and MSNBC should be tapping (more) into that with figures from all over the country.

My problem with Chris Matthews, Rachel, Chris Hayes and Ed is that there criticism is usually based on some idea of a perfect world, where the only person to blame is the President, for not pushing hard enough or performing miracles. Truth is, their criticism pretty much ignores the originators of the problems they complain about, the role of Congress, and the weak will of the people to make their wishes heard or vote for the party that will protect them and further their cause. Constructive criticism only works when it’s based on reality and able to be acted upon – which is rarely the case with these folks. They complain to show their independent thinking and their intellect – not to actually make things happen in the real world. And by ignoring the GOP and their role in the gridlock, they absolve them of any blame, and relegate them to the role of “joke fodder”.

And welcome, ms103127 – you don’t have to “earn” your right to express an opinion around here. Debate is good. 🙂

My new FAVORITE thing is the Banana Pudding Milkshake from Zaxby’s*.
You HAVE NOT LIVED until you either had one of these or tried to make one at home. Disgustingly loaded calorie count, basically “cardiac in a cup, but dammit that freakin’ thing is GOOOOOOOOOD! Just don’t have one every day, umkay?

I’m with you, UT. Can’t handle the scent or texture of bananas – but they always seem to be in the most fun concoctions and luxurious. When I crave them occasionally, I have to eat them while holding my breath and can only take three bites (have to cut off the top and bottom)… I’m strange that way…

But two months after the debut of All In, the audience has yet to come to the often fascinating, yet just as often tedious, House That Chris Built. Granted, two months isn’t all that long — although in TV years it can be a lifetime — but a quick glance at the numbers that are there show no upward trend or forward momentum but rather a big loss of eyeballs. Overall, it doesn’t read or feel like the right audience just hasn’t found Chris Hayes yet; it reads and feels like the audience in general knows he’s there and just isn’t interested. That’s a problem that, for a television executive, simply can’t be overstated. Hayes is sitting on the premier piece of real estate at MSNBC, the show that exists to set the tone for the evening, and if he’s failing — well, he can’t be allowed to, let’s put it that way. No matter how much nominal backing Hayes may have from Griffin and the enlightened beings of the 30 Rock adminisphere, the situation as it stands right now cannot stand.

Now if they were to put him back on weekends, it will fail for people are tired of his crap. Today at Mediaite, there is an article there with Hayes asking:where are the subpoenas for the pro-Obama leaks. He was on with Alex Wagner today. Now that kind of malarkey is really troubling even for weekend viewers.

I’ve been torn all along the way on this Hopefruit, at the end of reading a lot of the back and forth on Twitter I just concluded that Zach Green, who seems to me to be a decent enough guy, has absolutely no political loyalties, it’s all business for him – so, he’ll work with anyone from the Tea Party to PBO supporters to promote that business. That’s all it is to him. I honestly don’t believe he’s conspiring with the right, as many have alleged, he just goes where he thinks there’ll be a profit. What he’s been doing on Twitter is just a follow-back scheme, luring people with the promise of thousands of followers, it’s no more than that. There’s very little constructive about it. His biggest mistake has been to dishonestly try and portray himself as a progressive, which is improbable in light of his business dealings with the Tea Party. I reckon the basic UniteBlue Twitter idea was a good one, it allowed liberals hook up, but it’s seriously creepy how many of the UBers now view him as some kind of progressive God – he’s nothing of the sort!

” I just concluded that Zach Green, who seems to me to be a decent enough guy, has absolutely no political loyalties,”

Indeed Chips, and this realization is depressing. And a lot of so-called “progressive” media pundits, some of whom I thought were truly liberal are cut from the same cloth as this Zach guy. Just chasing where ever they see opportunity to attach themselves to something lucrative (for themselves), not genuinely interested for the sake of moving the country in a positive direction.

The thing is Hopefruit, if he’d been honest from the start it would have been fine, if he’d just said ‘this is a business venture aimed at uniting liberals on Twitter for personal profit reasons’, then no problem! People could have made their own decisions about it, rather than being conned in to thinking he’s a progressive God.

Sorry, I am disabling comments because I am tired of being called names by UniteBlue members. Also, they have been known to “dox” (release personal information on) anyone who disagrees with them — so even if you LIKE this video, it’s dangerous to comment, they’ll stalk and troll you everywhere.”

Does anyone else remember about 3 or 4 years ago when President Carter said the problem most people had with President Obama was race? That this obstruction really boiled down to race? People YELLED NO that isn’t so…..we’re beyond that. Well…..once again President Carter is being proven correct. He was right on in his analysis, and we knew it. These people are coming out in the open…they can’t pretend any more. Their bluff is being called…….disgusting as they are.

I am just as guilty as anyone else, but sometimes we tend to focus to much on how good someone looks, how handsome they are, are what they are wearing. We don’t talk about nearly enough that these are intelligent people. Like with FLOTUS all some want to know is what was she wearing, and I’m guilty of that too, but it seem we forget sometimes that this is a Ivy League college educated lawyer who was pulling in over six figures at one time when she was working. There is more to POTUS and FLOTUS then what they look like. Just my opinion, I’m not trying to step on anyone toes.

This morning, @joshtpm’s Twitter feed was filled with crazy thing after another (loaded weapon left on Disney World ride by man with Conceal/Carry permit), GOP needs to court white voters, Tea Partying Strip Club Mogul says he was also targeted, baby shoots self with gun, etc.)

But the day ends with good news.

Planned armed march on Washington called off. Organizer currently in fed prison for assaulting police officer http://t.co/kXdKwGrWQ9

Since we’re discussing MSNBC…..I have a thought. MSNBC rose to its popularity during the horrible Bush years. They were wonderful at taking him apart and calling him to account. Who can forget Keith Olbermann’s great editorials when he would enumerate and eviscerate GWB. He did a masterful job, and his audience ate it up, and the audience grew.
They were so thrilled when President Obama won…..they were all over him….for a while. Remember Tweety’s “tingle down his leg” after one of Senator Obama’s speeches?
Well, when they and we won, they didn’t know what to do. They were so used to outrage they couldn’t change gears, and lost their way, I think. Rachel is hot and cold, but she and her staff do actual investigative journalism, a rarity these days.
They have not figured out how to be supportive and objective and honest…..they are still in outrage mode because that is what they were built on, and now the object of that outrage is the president they so vociferously wanted five years ago.
They need to do real news…….then have a few hours of GOOD editorial and investigative journalism like Rachel. The field is wide open for genuine investigative journalism.

I respect Rachel’s intelligence, however, she is very impatient with the legislative process the President follows. She wants immediate results which can be easily overturned by the next president instead of waiting for due process resulting in law. She is a big fan of executive orders when it suits her beliefs e.g. DADT. Hence the hair on fire attitude!!!!!

Thanks for sharing the DF. Smartypants has been on fire! Based on my experience, DF, what “white supremacist” hate the most is an intelligent, self confident, Black person. In my humble opinion, this explains the vicious venom that has been unleashed against President Obama.